Lens of Love

Uncomfortable Conversations

Intro:

What is the most uncomfortable conversation you have had this week?

Without specifics, unless you really feel the need to share, what made it difficult?

Emmanuel Acho:

Latest conversation is one with Carl Lentz, pastor at Hillsong in NY, about the role religion plays in fueling or killing racism.

Now, you may or may not agree with Emmanuel or his guests on every issue or vlog, however, they have created a safe space where people can speak, and ask questions that can become uncomfortable at the workplace or even the dining room table.

As we think about the election upcoming, the ongoing issues surrounding being a just people, and even the attempted isolation and polarization of faith communities (particularly Christians) I am left wondering - how do we - followers of Jesus - lead by example in not just having conversations, how do we lead by example in becoming agents of change in our community?

I want to preface my comments this morning by pointing out that this message is for believers. As followers of Jesus, we are called out of the comfortable and into the space where uncomfortable conversations take place.

If you are not a follower of Jesus, then this message today - while not giving you marching orders, should provide you with a glimpse of what life, a surrendered life could look like in your relationships with Jesus, other followers and the world.

The Motivation

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Last week, Jack Crowley reminded us that God is more concerned with our motivations than He is with our actions - because it really is out of the overflow oft he heart that truth emanates.

Likewise, when addressing the difficult conversations that many of us are having, it is important for us to judge and know our motivations.

In Colossians, Paul reminds the church that the motivation for this life - and the next - is in our relationship with Christ.

If :

you have been raised with Christ

you are a follower of the Way

you are a disciple of Jesus

Then:

seek the things that are above

where Jesus is

set your mind on things above

not on things that are on the earth.

Why?

Because the Old is gone, all things became new ...

Because, if we are raised with Christ, we have died to the past and the things of this world.

When we, as followers of Jesus Christ, are not applying a heavenly, eternal perspective to our political opinions, to our social perspectives, to our educational systems, to our financial ideals, to areas of injustice, then our point of view is being guided by other belief systems.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the ultimate authority in all areas of life. This should be the foundation and starting point of all our decisions.

We need to be careful that our own personal preferences and positions do not become confused with religious doctrine.

This does not mean that all Christians are going to agree, however, it does mean that the decisions that they make should begin with a biblical framework.

Frameworks provide us with room to disagree while creating clear boundaries around our value systems. We might come to different conclusions based upon our life experiences, geographical location, or profession, however a biblical framework will allow for those differences without violating what is clearly biblical.

IN Compassion and Conviction, the authors remind us that “Christians clearly should not support solutions that undermine human dignity by, for example, unfairly discriminating, creating excessive criminal punishments, eroding religious liberty, undervaluing the lives of the unborn, and so on.

As Christians we must be deliberate about making sure our positions have biblical roots rather than being controlled by our political party or ideological tribe.

Colossians 2:8 ESV

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Again, the authors note:

We run into trouble when worldly perspectives control our moral outlook and override our Christian principles. Our political (and social) opinions must be based on biblical standards and not dependent upon human ideas. We must assess the issues within a framework that emphasizes love and truth, compassion and conviction, social justice and moral order. Our … decisions must demonstrate love for our neighbors while observing the timeless truths God has revealed to us through Scripture.

This is not saying, ignore what is going on around you. This is not saying issues of injustice should be swept under the carpet or ignored.

Are you longing for comfort, or are you longing for truth? Do you just want things to get back to “normal” or are you actively trying to be a part of the change.

Its easy to try to invalidate someone else’s position or perspective - isn’t it. Even now, some may discount my words as those belonging to an moderately conservative elderly, white man instead of listening and asking, what’s true? What is making me uncomfortable as I listen?

It is possibly because we have separated out the sacred and the secular. We have adopted an earthly mind-set that we are more interested in being right than in being humble?

When, as John Perkins asked this past Tuesday, did we begin to applaud hate? When did we begin, in the church, to say hate was okay?

I will suggest that it is directly related to where your mind is: on things above - or the things around you...

The Murder

not a very Mennonite word, however, what does the act of murder involve?

it involves pain, anxiety, a certain ruthlessness and cold-heartedness maybe...

And that is exactly how Paul is telling us to address what is earthly in us. Paul says, “Put it to death!”

Colossians 3:5–9 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Put to death sexual immorality!

Murder evil desire!

Assassinate covetousness!

Execute anger!

Slay wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk!

Exterminate lies!

Paul points out to the church at Colossae that nothing good comes from holding onto them. The wrath of God is coming as a result of people walking in them… however, its the past. It is the former life, the old self.

Pretty simple stuff here. So let me ask you:

If you went back over your FB posts of the last 12 years - or if you haven’t been following Jesus that long, the last year.... what needs to be put to death?

Here is a harder one, and a potentially more uncomfortable conversation:

What do your family or closest friends say needs to be put to death?

I want to challenge you here live and you at home.... Kill it! Put these things to death within you! You relationships will be better as a result.

However, I would be remiss if we just jumped on the negative. I think we spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME talking about the negative - especially the negative as it relates to people and situations we do not agree with.

If we are to murder mindsets of the world then we need to propagate perspectives of Christ.

The Mindset

Colossians 3:10–17 ESV

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Same, yet different

All made in the image of the Creator

The roles and identities we carry in the world are not what identify us in the Kingdom of God. The identifier is Christ! Christ is All! Christ is in All!

Yes, every tribe and tongue will be represented and we will know the difference, just as we have multiple tongues and tribes represented here at Crossroads, however, we are represented for one purpose!

To glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

The things we embrace/embody/exemplify

This is not a call to quiet complacency. It is a call to radical righteousness! It is a call to radical righteousness rooted in our God-ordained identities as followers of Jesus and to model Him.

It is a call to compassionate conviction and courageous service that does not view every issue through a two-party lens. It is a call to action that seeks to be both truth and love. To love our neighbors and our enemies with the same fervor.

The issues we are dealing with today are not either or issues… today we are given many false choices:

Do you advocate for social justice or family values?

Do you support women or are you against abortion?

Do you love the poor or do you believe in personal responsibility?

These for/against arguments lack nuance, they lack perspective and generally lack a Christ-centered, gospel-informed, mindset: They often lack truth and love.

They are based upon a false premise that creates a false dilemma for Christians. We potentially

end up choosing one of two wrong answers or rejecting one of two right answers, and losing control of our public witness in the process

Many Christians are conflicted because … we want to protect the unborn and treat the poor and racial minorities with love and compassion. We also see the merit in the criticisms of each side. Yet, because of how the issues are presented, Christians are told to either surrender their biblical convictions or neglect their Christlike compassion.

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus came full of grace and truth and the gospel requires us to be committed to loving others and standing up for biblical convictions rooted in the Word of God.

Truth and Love are not an either or proposition - it is both/and. The world may try to separate the two, however the gospel shows us we must value both.

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Note: instruction is not the goal, love is. Instruction is the means. It is subordinate. Truth serves love. Education serves relationships - mainly the relationship between us and God, but also between Christian and Christian, and between us and unbelievers. The "goal" of all our education is love.

Hebrews 10:23–25 ESV

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The aim of our "considering one another" and "encouraging one another" is that we stir up love. We mingle insight into "the confession of our hope" with insight into "each other," and the effect is stirring each other to love. The truth of doctrine and truth of people-watching unite to aim at love.

Because love is patient, and kind, does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, it does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrong-doing - It rejoices with the truth!

Love bears, believes, hopes and endures all things… Love never ends.

Love is glad when truth is spoken. Therefore love aims at truth. It supports truth.

2 Corinthians 2:4 ESV

For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Here is an example of how love aims at truth. Paul is filled with love and it compels him to write a letter that was hard, and caused sorrow in him and in the Corinthians. But it needed to be said. So love said it. Love speaks the truth personally and doctrinally.

Paul had to have an uncomfortable conversation - because he loved the Corinthian church.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

There is an unloving way to speak the truth. That kind of truth-speaking we should repudiate. But there is a way to speak the truth in love, and that we should seek. It is not always a soft way to speak, or Jesus would have to be accused of lack of love in dealing with some folks in the Gospels. But it does ask about what is the most helpful thing to say when everything is considered. Sometimes what would have been a hard word to one group is a needed act of love to another group, and not a wrong to the group addressed. But in general, love shapes truth into words and ways that are patient and gentle.

1 John 5:2 ESV

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

It is not always obvious which acts are loving. So John tells us some truth will help us know if our acts are loving. One truth test for our love is whether we are keeping the commandments of God toward people, In other words, love cannot be cut loose from the truth of God's will. Truth shapes how to show love.

Let us pray that God will cause his love and truth to abound and mingle in us in all these ways for the glory of his truth-filled love and love-filled truth.

Mark 12:30 ESV

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Love God

Mark 12:31 ESV

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Love your neighbor

John 13:34 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Matthew 5:44 ESV

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Love your enemies

Who is left out?

So we put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forebearance, and forgiveness.

We put on these qualities, these character traits that allow us to own our witness in our communities.

Over all these things - we put on Love...

Because we know Love covers a multitude of sins - right?

But, we put on love because we will be confronted with ideas, theories, and philosophies about what to value and how to make the world better, and things that can be helpful or harmful.

If we do not think about them through the lens of love, through the lens of the gospel, we will be prone to be led away from what is good and true.

Sound Biblical Doctrine must be the foundation of our civic involvement. We must be led by love and truth as we think critically about political issues and search for solutions.

We should let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, because we have been called to that together - regardless of who you voted for int he past or in the future - together we have been called to His Peace.

We should be thankful, living with a joyful expectancy that this is not the end, it is just the beginning. the last 60 years of my life are only the beginning of eternity. The remainder of my time on earth is only the beginning of eternity! I want to live it thankful, grateful for everything I have experienced and everyone I have had the joy to share it with.

We should be people of the Word, dwelling in the Word, encouraging and admonishing each other in the Word - so together we can stand firm in the Word as we grow together in the Word.

You cannot have a sound biblical foundation if you are not in the Word. Where you spend your time will slowly erode your foundation until Cardi B and Harry Styles are informing your understanding.

However, at the end of the day, how you practice truth and love, their influence in your life will reveal who you serve and more importantly where your focus is.

As followers of Jesus, we are reminded by Paul, that whatever we do, we are called to do it in the name of Jesus.

Whatever we do

So I ask you again, as I did 2 weeks ago: What is justice for the homeless? the hungry? the thirsty? the sick? the imprisoned? the oppressed?

What does justice look like through the lens of love?

What does justice look like when we allow ourselves to have uncomfortable conversations, filled with truth AND love?

What will Crossroads look like as we shape a future compelled by Jesus?

Let’s Pray!